July 4th fireworks shows planned in area

Gloucester and Mathews residents will celebrate Independence Day tomorrow with fireworks, music, fun on the beach and much more.

While friends and neighbors will gather for their own informal celebrations, more organized community events will be held at Mathews High School and on the Gloucester Point Beach.

The Mathews County Fireworks Committee is expecting its largest turnout yet for its annual fireworks show Friday night at MHS.

Fireworks will begin just after dusk, or between 9 and 9:15 p.m. and shuttle buses will be running from Thomas Hunter Middle School to the high school beginning at 7 o’clock. The free shuttle will run until fireworks begin and will start taking visitors back to THMS after the show.

Gates to view the show at the high school will also open at 7 p.m. and admission is free.

“We are hoping for just as fantastic of a show as we had last year,” committee spokesman Charles Ingram said, adding that this year’s event will include more food, drinks and other items available for purchase.

“The committee has been working very hard to raise money this year,” Ingram said. The total cost of putting on the show is around $11,000, and so far, $10,500 has been raised. However, the committee has some leftover funding that was not used for last year’s show.

Ingram said the portion of Buckley Hall Road directly in front of the high school will be closed to traffic beginning around 9 p.m. until the end of the fireworks display.